Unboxing: Sephora Play! February 2018

Another month, another Sephora Play beauty subscription box. Last month was absolutely terrible, did Sephora make up for it this February? Let's find out!

For details about what the Sephora Play box is and how it works, take a look at any of my past unboxing posts. Just as a reminder, this monthly subscription box costs $10 + tax.

When I first started subscribing to Sephora Play, the boxes had a general theme that was announced in advance on Sephora's website. It looks like they've given up on that. I don't think they're even trying to put together a selection of products that make any sense these days. I feel like they're just throwing together old deluxe samples that are leftover from gift with purchase events and loyalty rewards and call it a day. Or a box.

So the February Sephora Play box is called "Share the Love", but there's absolutely nothing in there that evokes Valentine's Day to me. The only thing that fits the theme is the leaflet, with graphic messages that you're supposed to cut out and give to your beauty-loving friends (??!). These inspirational notes include "do you even have pores", "you know what an essence is and that's why we're friends" or "yasss". I'm sorry, did they accidentally send me the children's version of this month box?

Anyways, let's take a deep breath, keep an open mind, and look at what's inside the box. That's the only thing that really matters, right?

- Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold: I already have that same exact travel-size eyeshadow stick in the same exact shade. That's not surprising, considering that this product has been around for many years and the sample has been available as a gift with purchase (or as they call it Beauty Offer) on Sephora's website multiple times in the recent past. It's not a bad shadow stick, but I don't need another one.

- Sephora Collection Rouge Matte lipstick in Rebel Chic: I've said it a few times, if Sephora is going to include their own store brand in their boxes, they should really give us full sizes. This lipstick is TINY, and it's so fragile that it fell out of its small tube when I opened it. It's basically unusable. Not yasss...

- Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Rosé: and yet another sample that I've received multiple times in the past. In fact, this very shade of the Fresh lip balm was part of Sephora's birthday gift around 5 years ago. Fresh has released new lip products recently but we're getting the same old sample in the same old shade. Plus, I already got another product from Fresh in last month's box. Are there only 5 different brands sold at Sephora? No, I didn't think so. So why repeat brands so much?

- Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb: this is the only recently launched product in this box, and also the only one I wanted to try. So not bad, but again, we've been bombarded with Belif samples lately. A little bit more variety please!

- Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm: I like makeup removers in balmy textures so I'll give it a try. With such a tiny sample I don't expect to get more than 2 uses to test it. I guess it's a rather good sample for me but by now I'm so depressed about this box that I'm afraid I don't really care anymore...

Oh boy, I think it's even worse than last month. Last time I was mad mostly because I got the same product twice in a row. But this month I could throw the entire box in the trash and not feel like I'm missing anything. Sephora really needs to get their sh*t together and start sending out boxes that contain new, intriguing and exciting products again. I don't think I can take too many more months of old tired products from the same handful of brands. It's the first time I'm really thinking of unsubscribing, because what I've been getting lately is just not worth my $10. This is such a missed opportunity for Sephora to keep the excitement going among their loyal customers community...

Number of products: 6

Makeup products: 1

Products I'm really excited about: 1

Products I know I won't use: 3

MY GRADE: D-

SHOP THE BOX

The subscription box featured in this review was purchased by me. I received no compensation to write this post, which only reflects my personal opinion. This post contains affiliate links. I receive a very small commission when you click on those links, and the money generated covers a small portion of my expenses to purchase products for review. Clicking on those links helps ensure that Beaumiroir continues to publish reviews of new and exciting high end French products - at no cost to you!

Bonjour!

Lulle, 30-something, I was born and lived most of my life in France. I also spent 5 years in Istanbul, Turkey, and now reside in San Diego, California. I have a cat, Ernesto, a little rascal who traveled with me from one country to another.

Hang out here to discover the best of French beauty brands, latest trends, and reviews of both high end and drugstore cosmetics.